1
as in wicked
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
the children had been so mischievous that we had to pay the babysitter extra and then clean up the mess
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
punished for their mischievous tricks on the neighbors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
causing or capable of causing harm
mischievous gossip that ruined a good teacher's reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischievous
Germany goalkeeper Berger went in at half-time wearing a mischievous smile.
—
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Fargo has an absurdist streak a mile wide and a sense of cosmic comeuppance that suggests the strings are being pulled by a mischievous trickster-god with a mean streak.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The cat's clumsy adventure quickly charmed viewers who recognized the mischievous nature of felines.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
But he was also known for his mischievous nature with teammates.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Fargo has an absurdist streak a mile wide and a sense of cosmic comeuppance that suggests the strings are being pulled by a mischievous trickster-god with a mean streak.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The cat's clumsy adventure quickly charmed viewers who recognized the mischievous nature of felines.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
But he was also known for his mischievous nature with teammates.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischievous
Adjective
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There's no rest for the wicked in Ligue 1 as Lens prepares to open another campaign in the French top flight at home to Lyon on Sunday.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Not since the days of Gossip Girl, the deliciously wicked mid-2000s teen television drama, has New York City's Upper East Side been a spot for the cool kids.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Tucked into a mansion-like building in Midtown, this Mediterranean-leaning lounge has been upgraded to offer a setting that feels like a naughty secret.—
Rafael Peña,
Miami Herald,
23 July 2025
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There are many more unbelievable and naughty moments to come in Stalter’s career, to be sure.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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That said, the Revolution had promising spells of attacking play and even looked the more dangerous side in the first half.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
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In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Assets with compelling, natural storytelling, where the emotional connectivity and playful nature of the ad proved central to its performance.—
Manuel Machado,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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There’s also a playful side threaded through the record, embodied in the reappearance of his alter ego, Billy Bob Bo Bob — a kind of fantastical trickster figure he’s inhabited before.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Not bad for a company built on the back of a $40 plastic-cased watch!—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
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This is all made much, much worse by the fact that Claire’s parents end up time-travelling . . .—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While some individuals and groups have called for a slower approach to gender-affirming care for minors, other pediatric gender care experts and advocates have said ending such care can have a harmful effect on patients' mental health and well-being.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
23 Aug. 2025
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Generally, coliforms are bacteria that are not harmful and are naturally present in the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But Kealoha offers Lilo a wellspring of sadness and aching loneliness just beneath the surface of her more impish qualities.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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The impish yet cute plushies are a global sensation among Gen Z and even those older, often hanging on handbags, backpacks and belt loops.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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The maintenance of a favorable risk-reward ratio over a shorter timeframe of 5 years is promising for retirement accounts – mitigating the risk of liquidation (if necessary) during adverse drawdown scenarios.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Many models struggle to operate in adverse weather conditions, and drones have weight limits for parcels.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Aug. 2025
Video
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Cite this Entry
“Mischievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischievous. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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